CIMANDE'S CULTURAL LEGACY: EXPERT INSIGHTS ON ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE TOURISM THROUGH INTANGIBLE HERITAGE

Cultural heritage plays a pivotal role in sustainable tourism by fostering socio-economic development and enhancing community resilience. However, within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its role remains peripheral, explicitly referenced only in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which emphasizes the protection and preservation of global cultural and natural heritage. Cimande Village in Indonesia, is renowned for its rich Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), including UNESCOrecognized Pencak Silat, traditional bone-setting practices, and religious rituals. Despite its cultural significance, the integration of ICH into sustainable tourism frameworks presents considerable challenges, necessitating strategic approaches that benefit both local communities and visitors. This study aims to identify the key elements of Cimande’s ICH and explore expert recommendations for its sustainable revitalization within the tourism sector. Employing an interpretivist paradigm and a single-case study methodology, this qualitative research integrates literature reviews, observations, surveys, and in-depth interviews conducted between October 2023 and May 2024. The study involved 11 tourism scholars from three universities who met the criterion of having visited Cimande Tourism Village at least three times, along with four tourism practitioners with over a decade of professional experience. The survey utilized open-ended questions administered via Google Forms, with follow-up clarifications and additional inquiries conducted via WhatsApp to ensure response accuracy and completeness. In-depth interviews were conducted telephonically at the request of informants due to scheduling constraints. Data were analyzed using NVivo 12 Plus through thematic and content analysis. This study ensured research credibility through member checking and data triangulation. The findings indicate that the sustainable revitalization of Cimande’s ICH requires a multidimensional approach encompassing innovative cultural tourism concepts, immersive cultural tourism experiences, and the development of tangible cultural products. These strategies integrate cultural, social, economic, and environmental sustainability dimensions, ensuring long-term benefits for both the local community and the tourism industry. This study contributes to theoretical discussions on ICH preservation within sustainable tourism frameworks and offers practical recommendations for tourism developers and policymakers with significant intangible cultural assets. Future research should incorporate comparative case studies and diverse stakeholder perspectives to refine strategies for ICH revitalization.